Police vans were set alight during a protest in the West of France 25 March 2023

Video. Watch: Violent clashes during water reserve protest in western France

Heavy clashes erupted between environmentalists and police over a disputed water reserve in the Deux-Sèvres department, in western France, on Saturday.

Heavy clashes erupted between environmentalists and police over a disputed water reserve in the Deux-Sèvres department, in western France, on Saturday.

Thousands of protesters mobilised in the late morning staging a procession in Sainte-Soline and defying a ban on gatherings in the area.

The protest quickly descended into clashes with large amounts of tear gas fired by police and protesters hurling rocks and petrol bombs.